+ All Categories
Home > Business > Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Date post: 14-Aug-2015
Category:
Upload: siddharth-nath
View: 696 times
Download: 1 times
Share this document with a friend
Popular Tags:
30
ECOTECH EDUCATION AND ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION OF THE LAKE CHILIKA, ORISSA. Prasanta Kumar Behera Ecotech & Biotech Research lab., Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Berhampur 760007, Orissa Email: [email protected]
Transcript
Page 1: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

ECOTECH EDUCATION AND ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION OF THE LAKE CHILIKA, ORISSA.

Prasanta Kumar Behera Ecotech & Biotech Research lab.,

Department of Botany,Berhampur University,

Berhampur 760007, Orissa

Email: [email protected]

Page 2: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

ABSTRACT

Any technological application that uses ecological system is theEcotechnology (ET). ET is a multibillion dollar industry. The ecological world is the panacea of novel genes. Ecological diversity and novel products; molecular diversity; bioremediation and pollution control; organisms as factories for producing proteins, pigments, medicines etc. through cutting edge biotechnologies is for societal transformation, sustainable development, food security and environmental conservation. Lake Chilika, technically a coastal or estuarine lake of Orissa is the second largest lake of the world. The services of ecosystem of Lake Chilika that produces eco-resources are critical to the functioning of our life support system. Mother Chilika contributes to our welfare and the economic value is much more than billions of rupees per year. Chilikaregulates air, water, soil and food, fibre, fuel of the state Orissa. Chilikaecosystem goods (e.g. food) and services (e.g. recycling of resources) present a challenge for our education in conservation, restoration, management and development of Chilika lake-ecotech industries in our state Orissa.

Page 3: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Introduction:In good olden days Lake Chilika was Orissa’s vista or window to the world and a blue gateway of

Orissa. Chilika lake ecosystem is one of the highly productive habitat that function at optimum physiological level to generate maximum biomass. Chilika is a unique assemblage of saline and sweet water ecosystem with estuarine habitats-present a challenge to physiologists and biochemists. Chilikalake – the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia as productive super power is mirable visu (L) Wonderful to see.

The ecosystem of lake Chilika is unique as it is a combination of saline water from the Sea-Bay of Bengal with the fresh water discharged from the rivers and rivulets to the lake that creates a unique biodiversity, which resist both to sweet and saline conditions. Therefore the lake ecosystem is extremely important from biodiversity point of view for conservation and sustainable utilization of bio-resources of lake Chilika.

The ecological integrity of lake Chilika is threatened due to the problems of siltation,eutrophication, and changes in salinity regimes, freshwater weed proliferation and over exploitation of bio-resources. Ecotech influences on production, control, human health, atmospheric composition, climate, soil fertility etc. Ecotech is a solution in search of a problem. Ecological diversity is the biological capital of human society. The working knowledge of the natural world is the natural technology or ecotechnology. Loss of biodiversity is the loss of natural wealth. Biodiversity is living library and ecotechnology is a living laboratory. Biodiversity provides free goods and services to society and ecotechnology provides new and more goods and services. The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital is estimated to be in the range of US $ 16-54 trillion per year with an average of US$33 trillion per year (Costanza et al, 1997) and ecotechnology will enhance the value of earth’s life-support system.

Page 4: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 5: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 6: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 7: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 8: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 9: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 10: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 11: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 12: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 13: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 14: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 15: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 16: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 17: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 18: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 19: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 20: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 21: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 22: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 23: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 24: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 25: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa
Page 26: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Potentials:The vegetation area of the lagoon covered with macrophyte is 179 sq kms, which varies

seasonally. Floristic survey revealed the occurrence of 726 species of plants as most exotic hotspots of phyto-diversity. Chilika lake as a Ramsar Site has attracted world wide attention for her eco-restoration from a multiplicity of pressures and presents a challenge for thorough investigations on her industrial potential.

Lake Chilika is a Lake Net Biodiversity Priority site and home to great biodiversity, including endangered species listed in the red data section of the Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources red list. It is the wintering ground for more than 1,000,000 migratory birds, and breeding and staging ground for nearly three dozen water-bird species. About 200 bird species have been identified of which, reportedly about 100 are intercontinental migrants. Several hundred fish species have been identified (including commercially important species) and 40% are reportedly dependent on sea water migration. A 1980s survey claimed to have identified over 800 species of fauna. Rare species include the Limbless skink (Barkudia insularis), found only in Chilika, and the Irrawaddly Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). Nearly 400 species of flora were identified; with some having medicinal properties and others being used as vegetables, fodder, thatching, fish food, bird food and nesting material. Little is known about the microbial populations. This data reflects a relatively small number of studies mostly conducted prior to the hydrological activities.

Page 27: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Prospects:One of the core competencies of lake Chilika is biodiversity, which combined

with technology will yield value-added products.Biotechnology has made tremendous growth, particularly in the field of DNA

techniques, cell and tissue culture, enzymology, bioprocess engineering, immunology andvaccinology Biotech Industries:Aquaculture: Feed Development, production of transgenic fish, extraction of bioactive compounds, cryopreservation of embryos, development disease diagnostics.Biofertilisers: Algae, bird’s excreata Industrial Biotechnology: Gene cloning, pigment industrial, cosmetic Industrial, Drink and Food Industries, Bird’s Culture Industries, Bird’s Feather Industries, Bird’s Egg Industries, Crab Culture Industries,, Prawn Culture Industry, Fish Culture Industry, Dolphin Culture Industry, Medicinal Plant Culture Industry, Aquatic Plant Culture Industry and Bio Gas Industry.

Air, Water, Soil, in organic nutrients (sedments), navigation, irrigation, eco-tourism industry and for defence bioterrorism Industry.

Page 28: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Cutting edge Technology cycle for the future: In improving the quality of life.

Ecotechnology Biotechnology Nano technology Space technology(ecological services & goods) (Biochips, bioinformatics) (Thinking machines) (Exobiology)

Chilika lake Ecotech: Vision for the Orissa State

(Lake Biodiversity) (employability) (Human society) (Economic prosperity)Food security Employment Security Life security State Security

Page 29: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Conclusion:The potential of Lake Chilika as the basis for new biotechnology

remains largely unexplored. Indeed, the vast majority of Lake micro-organism have yet to be identify. Genetic diseases and gene therapy, a technology for the future, mapping and sequencing of genomes of living systems produced unprecedented amount of information for revolutionizing our life systems. It is suggested to establish LakeChilika biotech bank.

If we support ecotech we are joining the esotech scientists to stop environmental destruction. Let us dedicate to save our environmental and the life it supports. Together we shall work to protect the environment from pollution and destruction for environmental security and support gene banks for ‘world life-security’. Let us try to solve and support for our survival and for “Freedom from war”. Let us work to preserve our beautiful planet for our future generations to make it more beautiful and more peaceful.

Page 30: Ecotech Education & Ecosystem Conservation Of The Lake Chilika, Orissa

Acknowledgements:It is a pleasure to acknowledge the financial support by Department of Ocean

Development, Government of India through Ocean Science and Technology Cell,Berhampur University in enabling the research in Plant Physiology and biochemistry laboratory, Botany Department, Berhampur University.

References:Behera P.K 1999 Applied Botany: Biodiversity and Biotechnology. In UGC refresher course in Botany Department, Berhampur University 1998-1999, p.1 –92.Behera P.K. 2003 Ecophysiological investigations involving phytoplanktons for monitoring the phytodiversity in the Chilika lake ecosystem of east coast of India. Project Report,1 – 35 pages.Costanza, R et al 1997 The value of he world’s ecosystem services and natural capital, Nature, 253-260.Lata, N and Behera, P.K. 2004. Ecophysiological investigations involving phytoplanktonsfor monitoring phytodiversity in the ‘Chilika’ lake ecosystem of east cost of India. DOD Project No. DOD/11- MRDF/4/11/UNI/97(p-17) progress report 2002-2003, p.35.Various Internet Sources & Other Annual Reports.


Recommended